Oscillating bob-knee.



C. E. BARNES.

OSCILLATING BOB KNEE.

APPLxcATxoN FILED MAR. 9. 191s.

Patented J an. 16, 1917.

#VIZ/fesses t W fil tlt CHARLES E. BARNES, OF HANCOCK, NEW YORK.

OSCILLATING BOB-KNEE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 16, 191W.,

Application filed March 9, 1916. Serial No. 83,161.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. BARNES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hancock, in the county of Delaware, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oscillating Bob-Knees; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates generally to sleighs, and particularly to the knees thereof.

The primary object of the invention is to provide improved means for eiecting a connection between a sled andthe body supporting beam thereof, whereby a positive and secure connection is made, and one which will permit of various oscillations of the sled relative to the supporting beam to enable the said sled to ride over or conform to irregularities in the surface over which 'it is passing.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bob knee wherein oscillatory movement of the sled in the direction of travel of the vehicle is permitted, and in which lateral movements of the sled runners or supporting beam are prevented.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character above briefly outlined, which is of simple and inexpensive construction, which is composed of but few readily assembled parts, each so arranged as to preclude the possibility of wearing or breakage of the same, and one which will prove thoroughly eiiicient in the attainment of the ends for `which it is designed.

With these objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention will be best understood by reference t0 the accompanying drawings, wherein: f

Figure 1, is a longitudinal sectional view taken through a conventional form of sled runner and illustrating in section the application of a knee embodying my invention, Fig. 2, is a sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3, is a detail perspective view of the sled beam removed from the runner, and Fig. t, is a similar view of the runner and supporting block.

Referring now more particularly to the 'drawings 5 indicates a conventional form of sled runner, the same being equipped with the usual metallic shoe 6, bolts 7 being employed to retain the shoe to the runner.

In carrying out the invention a block 8 is secured by means of bolts 9 upon the upper edge of the ruimer. This block is cut away upon its uppermost surface and preferably intermediate the ends thereof to form a curved seat 10, the curvature of the said seat being lengthwise of the block and runner. Pins 11 extend through the runner 5 1n spacedrelation t0 each other and through the block S, the said pins penetrating the block intermediate the lateral edges thereof, and slightly inwardly from each end of the uppermost face of the block.

The beam for supporting the sleigh body is indicated at 12. This beam is of sufficient thickness to withstand the strains to which it may be subjected, and is of a width to extend loosely between the projecting end portions of the pins 11. A bearing plate 13 is secured upon the under face of the beam adjacent the end thereof, the said plate being secured to said beam by suitable bolts 14. An arcuate downwardly disposed bearing portion 15 is provided upon the plate 13 and preferably intermediate the ends of the latter, the outermost face of the said bearing portion being of a curvature equal to that of the seat portion 10 of the runner block. Flanges 16 project downwardly from the lateral ends of the curved bearing portion 15 whereby the same will snugly en gage with the lateral edges of the block 8 t0 prevent lateral sliding movement of the beam. From this construction it is apparent that oscillatory movement of the runner relative to the beam 12 is permitted to enable the runner to conform to various irregularities or undulations in the surface over which it is traveling. It is also apparent that the depending anges 16 will, through their engagement with the opposite lateral edges of the block 8, prevent lateral movement of the beam and runner relative to each other. Projecting outwardly from the opposite lateral edges of the plate 13 are ears 17, each ear being provided with an elongated opening 18 through which the pins 11 pass. The openings 18 extend longitudinally of the ears to permit of free movement of the plate 18 and its beam 12 relative to the knee block 8.

By reference particularly to Figs. 1 and 8 of the drawings, it will be seen that the bearing portion 15 projects outwardly from the plate 13 a distance suflicient to support the plate 13 and the outwardly projecting ears 17 thereon above the uppermost face of the block 8, whereby various oscillations of the runner will be permitted without causing the block 8 to engage with the ears 17.

Sleeves 19 are arranged upon the projecting ends of the pins 11, the said sleeves resting upon the uppermost surface of the block S at one end and extending upwardly to terminate at their opposite ends in substantially the saine plane with the uppermost face of the bottom 12, A strap or plate 20 provided in its opposite ends with suitable openings is secured at each end through said openings to the protruding portions of the pins 11 tostraddle or span the beam 12, nut 21 being threaded on the extremities of the pins 11 to securely bind the strap ends upon the adjacent ends of the sleeves 19, and to securely hold the latter in engagement with the upper face of the block S. The upper surface of the beam 12 directly beneath the strap 20 is channeled or cut away laterally, the said channel being curved downwardly at its ends to permit of oscillating movement of' the runner with relation to the beam 12. This channel is so constructed that when the runner is moved to the extreme limit of oscillation in one direction, the beam of the channel will bind against the strap .20, whereby the outwardly projecting lugs 17 will be prevented froin contacting with the knee block 8.

As an additional support for the knee, a bracket 22 is provided. This bracket is provided at its opposite ends with feet 23 which rest upon the uppermost edge of the runner 5 and are held rigidly to said runner by the bolts 7. The bracket is arched upwardly and extends across the above described 'knee joint, being provided with spaced openings for engagement over the protruding ends of the pins 11.

1f desired, the knee block S may be widened as shown at 241 whereby a greater bearing surface for the bearing portion 15 may be provided. It will be understood that the members constituting the knee may be formed of any suitable material, such as metal, and it is apparent that when properly applied or assembled upon a sled will prove thoroughly practical and efficient in attaining the ends for which it is designed. It is also apparent that the construction permits of the employment of a knee joint between the runner and beam without the necessity of weakening the latter by the insertion oil bolts or bunk pins through the saine.

While I have herein shown and described a particular or preferred embodiment o'l the invention, 1 wish it to be understood that 1 need not confine myself to all the precise details of construction herein set forth by way of illustration, as modification and variation 'may be made without departing from the spirit of' the invention oi' exceeding the scopo of the claims.

I claim:

1. A bob knee comprising in combination with a runner and a sleigh beam, a bearing block cai'ried by said runner and having a concaved seat, pins extending through said runner and said block,v sleeves mounted upon the upper ends of said pins, a bearing plate mounted upon the lower 'lace ot said beam and having a convex face fitted to said concave bearing face, said sleeves providing columns to confine said beam and bearing plate within the limits of said concave bearing face, loops Jformed on said bearing plate and surrounding said sleeves above the upper limits of the bearing block, and a retaining plate secured on said pins and confining said beam and said sleeves.

2. A bob knee comprising in combination with a runner and a sleigh beam, a. bearing block carried by said runner and having a concaved seat, pins extending through said ruimer and said block, sleeves mounted upon the upper ends of said pins, a bearing plate mounted upon the lower face of said beam and having ay convex face fitted to said concave bearing face, said sleeves providing columns to confine said beam and bearing plate within the limits of said concave bearing face, loops formed on said bearing plate and surrounding said sleeves above the upper limits of the bearing block, a retaining plate secured on said pins and confining said beam and said sleeves, and a guide groove formed in the upper face of said beam and coperatiiig with said retaining plate to limit the vertical inoveiiieiit of said loops.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. BARNES.

fitnesses Lnwis KLEINLE, Lnwrs A. TAYLOR.

Copies of` this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

